After carrying out an experiment, Road Safety alerts drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and scooter riders to the consequences of the time change…
This year, the changeover to winter time will take place during the night of Saturday October 26 to Sunday October 27. If most French people take care to organize themselves in advance so as not to be delayed or to allow children to have a good night’s sleep, few are aware of the danger that the time change can entail on the roads. . To raise awareness among users, Road Safety conducted an experiment at UTAC which made them aware of the risks. And for good reason: “each year, a peak in accidents is observed after the time change weekend“, warns Road Safety, which wants to demonstrate to all French people, whether they are pedestrians, cyclists, scooter riders or motorists… The importance of making yourself visible.
The experiment carried out at night consisted of carrying out emergency stopping tests of a vehicle, facing a pedestrian and a cyclist without and with retro-reflective clothing. Result: at night, when the car is traveling at 50 km/h, pedestrians dressed in retro-reflective clothing are visible at 44 meters compared to only 28 meters when dressed in black. In the first case, the vehicle manages to stop 13 meters from the dummy. When the pedestrian is not seen in time, the vehicle needs 31 m to stop. “During the test, the pedestrian is then knocked down at a speed of 32 km/h”explains Road Safety, which also carried out this experiment on a cyclist, with a car traveling at 80 km/h, at night.
“In the headlights of a car traveling at 80 km/h, a cyclist dressed in dark clothing on a properly equipped bicycle with lighting is visible at 35 m. At 80 km/h, the vehicle needs 60 m to stop With a retro-reflective vest, this same cyclist is visible at 63 m, which allows the vehicle to stop 3 m from the cyclist if he is stationary and 22 meters if the cyclist is moving in the same direction. the car, at a speed of 20 km/h“.
“During the time change, motorists must be particularly vigilant towards the most vulnerable users who will be less visible in the morning and at the end of the day. Pedestrians, cyclists and scooter riders, wear equipment and clothing that will make you more visible and remember to turn on your lights”recommends Florence Guillaume, interministerial delegate for road safety. It is in fact recommended to wear light-colored clothing and to opt for retro-reflective devices (vest, gloves, strip on the children’s backpack or school bag, etc.).